Speeches

Training

PAT’s General Council meets ahead of crucial decision

House gives authority to Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri to decide whether PAT will take
part in elections or not.
Strict accountability of looters and thieves should take place first before
elections are held: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
The plunderers’ place is not assembly but jail: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
All plunderers are suffering from Qadri-phobia after 5-day Long March: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
I will lead Long March in every city if PAT decides to contest elections: Dr
Tahir-ul-Qadri
I will soon disclose eye-opening facts about Election Commission: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

Attended by 15,000 office bearers of Pakistan Awami Tehreek from across the country,
the all-important meeting of General Council of PAT took place in Township on February
3, 2013. The meeting was presided over by Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
Newly elected President of PAT Dr Raheeq Abbasi, MQI’s Secretary General Sheikh
Zahid Fayyaz, Amir-e-Tehreek Sahibzada Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani and central and provincial
office holders of PAT were also present on the occasion.

The proceedings of General Council got underway with the recitation from the
Holy Quran followed by Naat at 11:30 a.m. Amir-e-Punjab Ahmad Nawaz Anjum presented
welcome address. He congratulated the participants of the meeting on successful
Long March. He said that the March helped project soft image of Pakistan in the
world. He said that Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri promised to the world that the Long
March would be peaceful. He fulfilled his promise as not even a single glass broke
down and marchers were incarnation of peace, steadfastness and courage in the face
of heavy odds. He said that the Long March represented the aspirations of people
of Pakistan, adding that the struggle of change which began with the Long March
would reach its destination.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri delivered his keynote address to the participants
of the meeting. The people listened to the address of Dr Qadri under the open skies
despite severe cold and rainy weather. They chanted passionate slogans which warmed
up the atmosphere. On the question of whether PAT should take part in elections
or not, the 15,000 office holders of PAT handed over the power to Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
to take decision in this regard.

Addressing the participants, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the Long March was a
seminal point of revolution. He said that the fight against looters and plunderers
was not over after the Long March, adding that it had just started. He said that
the ruling elite was busy in protecting their corruption at the time of Long March
in the federal capital, while he was waging a struggle for restoration of people’s
rights. He said that he saved Constitution and democracy on January 17, adding had
he not taken immediate decision, the martial would have been imposed in the country.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that time to save country was now. He further
held that he would undertake even 100 Long March if such a need arose. He made it
clear that elections were the only way forward to save the country but electoral
reforms were a must before elections could be held. He said that elections without
reforms would end up returning the same crop of so-called looters with even graver
consequences for the country’s economy and integrity. He promised that we would
not let it happen. He said that he would continue to fight for the rights of the
youth, women widows, mothers, sons and sisters. He said that it was every Pakistani’s
responsibility to get Constitutional provisions implemented. He said that Articles
62 and 63 had created fear in the ranks of privileged elite. He said that we wanted
a democracy in which the country’s resources could be spent on the people’s welfare
and did not go into the pockets of MNAs, MPAs and ministers in the name of development
funds.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri said that PAT would put the country on trajectory
of sustainable socio-economic development by getting the charter of reforms implemented.
He said that he wanted elections on time and would continue to fight for real democracy
in the country till the last breath of his life. He said that every segment of society
was politically aware now. He said that every city of Pakistan would witness an
Islamabad-like Long March if the people’s demands were not met.

Answering various questions of journalists after his speech, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri
said that PAT was soon going to move a petition in the Supreme Court regarding reformation
and reconstitution of Election Commission. He said that he would argue the case
himself in the honourable Court. Responding to a question, he said that all plunderers
suffered from Qadri-phobia after five-day Long March. He said that he would undertake
countrywide visits in which the looters and plunderers would flee the country.

Speaking on the occasion, newly elected President of PAT Dr Raheeq Abbasi said
that peaceful Long March was manifestation of the fact that we were peaceful people.
He said that we would fight for people’s rights and democracy through peaceful and
democratic means. He said that PAT was representing the aspirations of the people.
He said that we would take all decisions with the input of the masses.